Friday, December 9, 2011

IF there is one place in the CNMI that
provides the perfect location for driving around at your leisure and
following all roads free from the thought that someone from behind will
blow their horn, it is the island of Rota.

This
untouched gem in the Pacific, which carries loads of character and
charm, is about a 30 minute plane ride from Saipan and boasts pristine
beaches, beautiful underwater wonders, rich green jungles, cool
mountains, cultural and historical memorabilia scattered all over the
place.

A trip some months back to Rota gave me
the chance to experience what it was to drive at my leisure, stopping
every now and then to take photos of whatever caught my attention and
just “follow the road wherever it leads,” things you cannot do anywhere
on Saipan or you face the risk of slamming your car into a tree or into
another car.

Driving from the airport and heading
toward the famed latte stones all the way to the Bird Sanctuary is an
exciting experience for any first time visitor in the island.

When you drive from Sinapalo to Songsong
village, roll down your windows and grab the opportunity to breathe all
the fresh sea air you would want and feast on the beautiful coastal
views along the way.

Having a whole day to myself gave me the
freedom to drive at my own pace and drive through used and seemingly
abandoned roads to satisfy my curiosity to where the roads lead and what
was at the other end.

Driving on an unfamiliar road adds to the
thrill and often times I reached a dead ends but it was always easy to
turn back, retrace your way and venture into another road.

My aimless driving brought me to abandoned hotels and resorts that once thrived with life and laughter.

I roamed around and took images of
dilapidated buildings almost obscured by thick vines and shrubbery and
left at the mercy of the harsh elements of nature while fighting the
goose bumps that one gets while exploring abandoned places all alone,
even in broad daylight.

Driving toward the jungles at the foot of
Sabana Mountain on the afternoon of my second day put an end to all my
illusions that I was brave enough.

As I drove through the road that became
narrower as I went deeper into the jungles, I was losing the nerve to go
down and just snapped images from my driver’s seat.

The road suddenly took a curve when I reached a portion where thick vines hanging from the trees obscured the way.

I stopped and stared at the road ahead, my imagination playing havoc on me.

With the late afternoon sun casting eerie shadows, it looked surreal, like a scene from a horror movie and I panicked.

The road was too narrow to turn back, and I was too scared to drive on.

Taking a deep breath, I was left with no
choice but drive on and as soon as I reached the other side, it was all
over and I was able to find a spot to turn back the car.

The experience did not mar my enthusiasm
to drive around some more the following day. There are still more roads
on Rota that I haven’t explored yet, but I will be back. One day.

Friday, December 2, 2011

I FOUND it astounding that some people said they have never set
foot inside the only place which offers hours of solace and relaxation
for people regardless of ethnicity and age—the Hollywood Theater in San
Jose.
I thought that was just a running joke, until one day when I dragged a
buddy to watch one movie which I had been waiting for a long time and
right in the middle when I was totally lost in the movie, he poked me in
the side and confessed that it was his first time be inside Hollywood
for his 10 years of being here.
Another friend who has been here for over 25 years said she also has
never set foot inside the theater but would rather rent DVDs and watch
movies from home.
I had been on Saipan but two months when I took the chance to see
what this island had to offer in terms of theater entertainment. The
name Hollywood would astound any newcomer of course but although there’s
no comparison from the theaters back in the Philippines, the
seven-screen multiplex located next to Price Costco or Joeten Superstore
has eased a lot of ‘bad hair days’ for me and a lot of residents here.The Hollywood Theater screens the latest first-run movies and I
always had to curb the urge to watch on the first day because several
times I’ve tried sitting at the topmost row where you can barely stretch
your feet, and at the very front where you will get stiff neck
afterward and come out of the theater dazed because of a very close
encounter with the actors on the screen.
Watching movies perched in your sofa or from your bed is a good
option because you can do it wearing house clothes or just a bathrobe,
where you have the power to pause the movie if you want to have a
restroom break or a few minutes nap but going to the theater is a
totally different experience.
Opening the glass doors after you bought your ticket and inhaling the
smell of popcorn is bliss, but carrying a huge bucket to munch on
throughout the movie is priceless.
The Hollywood Theater is Saipan’s meeting place of kids and parents,
friends and relatives especially during the weekends. It is one place
here where I never hesitate to watch movies alone and still feel at
ease, something I could never imagine doing back in the Philippines.
This usually happens when my companions and I don’t agree with what
movies to watch so we go our separate ways and meet up after.
When you feel the need to relax, steal an hour or two and make the
Hollywood Theater your destination. Try the fun of hopping from one
movie to the next when you have the luxury of time.

Friday, November 25, 2011

HAVE you ever tried parking along the Beach Road and actually sit
in one of those benches that are scattered far and few along the long
stretch of beaches near the walkway?
You may say that these lonely-looking benches with wooden planks and
metal feet, facing the sea exposed to the rain, sun and the winds day in
and day out have been there forever. So, what’s with those ordinary
benches by the seaside anyway?
I can say nothing much, except you’ll find some planks missing and
some rusty nails sticking out but if you take a few minutes to sit down
and be in for something you’ve always taken for granted.
Oh the stories those benches can tell!
Arriving an hour early for a massage appointment at the Beach Road
one evening, I crossed the street and relished the chance to finally sit
on one of the three benches facing the sea, stretch my legs, breathe in
the salty tang of the ocean air and just let time pass and watch the
world go by. It was a chance which I had been dying to do since forever.
I was in a daydreaming state when an angry-looking guy flopped down
on the bench farthest from me. Not aware that somebody was there, he
broke the silence and started yelling at somebody or whoever he was
talking to in his cellphone. I was glued to my seat, not wanting to
eavesdrop yet not wanting to get up and catch his attention. After a few
minutes, the guy stood up and left, not knowing I was there.
Trying to recapture my earlier bliss, I closed my eyes and took a
deep breath when two joggers passed by, pleasantly swapping stories to
each other. Minutes later, a couple passed by, bickering about bills and
family matters as though they were at home and not on a public walkway.Talk about peace! The thought of relaxing flew away totally this
time, and I began to see the benches in different way—as an avenue to
learn about people and their lives. It’s like being given a chance to
peek into a window and see things for what they are without the main
characters knowing that you’re there. Okay, call it eavesdropping but no
one can blame you for sitting there and hearing all those things. In
the first place, you were there to sit and relax!
From that time, I never drive along the Beach Road without glancing
at these benches which are deserted most of the time but if I do see
anyone sitting there, I begin to weave stories in my mind as to what
they are thinking and what they are going through.
Many times I see couples or families watching the sunset from the
benches and had to curb the urge to stop and snap photos—after the
blasting of horns and screeching sounds of the cars behind me of course.
Those benches could indeed provide several chapters to write a book.
As for those bench occupants, be careful because one day, you might just
find your stories in the pages of a book!

Friday, November 18, 2011

A FEW steps behind the Flag Circle at the Court of Honor of
American Memorial Park in Garapan is a wide marble tablet which I have
always seen before but have not given it any particular notice, until
last week when I had time on my hands and I was at the area.
After covering the solemn ceremony of the Veteran’s Day at the Court
of Honor, I ventured near the wharf area to cool off and noticed with
news eyes this monument that I had no idea played a very big role
marking the end of the bloodiest battle in the Pacific.
Stepping on the tiled cement, I approached the tablets and read for the first time what was written there.
The middle tablet bears the following inscription:

PEACE AT LAST. At 6:35 August 15. 1945, the Commander in chief of
the US Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas Admiral Chester W. Nimitz
ordered all offensive action against the Japanese to cease. All the guns
of war fell silent. The long post war process of healing,
reconstruction and the building of a basis for mutual trust and lasting
peace began. The signing of the peace treaty between Japan, the United
States and the Allied Powers on September 8, 1951 at the San Francisco
Peace Conference formally brought World War 11 to a close.

Flanking the middle tablet were two tablets signed by US President
Harry S. Truman and Japan Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida attesting to
their desire for peace and reconciliation.
Joggers and bikers around the area usually pass by without paying
attention to this marble tablet, or maybe they already know it is there
and thinks no big deal of it.
Here is something that the present and the future generations must
continue to be aware of. The tablet is just a piece of marble, yet it is
an instrument announcing to the world that although the scars of the
war will always be there peace was finally attained. It signifies an end
to tragedy, to a war that claimed thousands of both US and Japanese
soldiers and civilians, and left thousands more of families homeless.
If you’ve got some free time, try to visit American Memorial Park’s
Peace Memorial. It is one place that a lot of people from different
parts of the world would give a lot for just to visit this monument of
peace. It is right within your reach.

Friday, November 4, 2011

THE minute you emerge from the arrival area and out into the open
at the Rota International Airport., a collection of Japanese WW11
airplane engines and anti aircraft guns neatly arranged in a row will
meet your eye.
I saw the collection right away at the left side of the airport but
had to curb the itch to walk over for a closer look and start snapping
photos of these artifacts that continue to attract tourists and history
buffs from all over the world. It was my first time to set foot on Rota
and I had no spare time because a friend was picking me up in a few
minutes. I vowed to come back, which I did the following day when I
finally rented a car to do some exploring on my own.
The rustic airplane engines were placed in constructed stone
pedestals surrounded by neatly trimmed grass. Albeit rusty, the engines
were obviously maintained and oiled because they don’t show the
impression that they are ready to fall off into pieces at a moment’s
notice.
At the end of the row of airplane engines is an equally rusty yet
well-maintained anti aircraft gun still intact after all these years.I took my own sweet time inspecting the relics and capturing them on
the lens to share to the rest of the world who haven’t had a chance to
visit the island.
The variety of World War 11 relics scattered all over the island is
just one of the many bonuses you get in driving around the idyllic
Paradise of this 13km long island in addition to the rich historical
sites, the long stretches of white sandy beaches, rich evergreen
forests, and the slow, leisurely lifestyle.
History records show that Rota was occupied by Japanese forces during
World War II and became an important link for the Japanese to get their
supplies from Japan.
In an island where stop-lights are unheard of and where motorists
wave at each other on the road, where a remote-island atmosphere rules
in comparison to the hustle and bustle of Guam or Saipan 30 minutes
hopper ride away, these World War 11 relics feel more at home.
Rota is a jewel waiting for visitors to come and explore its
treasures, and these treasures can be seen right from the airport and
all over the island.

Friday, October 28, 2011

SITUATED over 800 feet above sea level is a must-see and must-visit
mountaintop on Saipan that has played a very important part in the
island’s history.
Standing
near the railing at the view deck of Suicide Cliff on a Friday noon was
not in my plan but there I was last week, cameras slung around my neck
ready to take another batch of photos of the place where thousands of
Japanese soldiers and civilians choose to jump to their deaths than to
surrender to the American troops during the war.
Turning away from the breathtaking views of the Veterans Cemetery and
the blue ocean that stretched for miles and miles away, I walked a few
paces to the Peace Memorial, a monument that has claimed visits from
thousands of tourists, each year. Most of the visitors are Japanese who
come to offer flowers and food to their dead ancestors.
According
to the sign at the foot of the monument, the Peace Memorial was
constructed to console the spirits of those who died — regardless of
their nationality — at this historic area and to remind the people of
the tragic futility of war. The memorial is built with hopes that
everlasting peace and friendship will prevail among mankind
The construction of the Peace Memorial came through the efforts of
the people who lived in the Pacific islands and it was dedicated in 1972
during the Trust Territory government.
During the early months of the year, the Peace Memorial takes on a
spectacular view as the flame trees blossom where its flaming red and
orange flowers provide a wonderful contrast to the blue skies and lush
foliage.
Sadly, burglary incidents have been reported happening in this Peace Memorial site and at Suicide Cliff.
With no security in the area and with overgrown bushes at the side of
the Peace Memorial leading to the Banadero Trail, a thief can get away
easily after robbing a tourist.

Stakeholders in the tourism industry said the government should look
into clearing these bushes and jungle area so criminals will have
nowhere to hide. Visitors feel safe and peaceful. After all, this is a
Peace Memorial.
http://mvariety.com/special-features/around-the-island/41239-peace-memorial-on-a-cliff-top.html

Friday, October 21, 2011

STRANDED for over an hour to wait for the next flight in an airport
has never been a bother for me, but not when you are not feeling well
and the ground seems to shake and your start to see double of
everything. Most of all, not if you are stranded at the Tinian Airport
where there is nothing to do but stare at the empty seats and the small
confines of the departure area.Fighting the urge to curl up on one of the benches and go to sleep
last Monday, I had time on my hands with nothing to do. I left my Kindle
at home, which would have come handy that time and it was no use
wishing I had called earlier to reconfirm my flight back to Saipan.
Otherwise I would have spent another hour in bed in my hotel room.
Walking out of the departure lounge, I stared dully at the deserted
roads and the burning heat outside and saw something that I have always
seen before but never paid any attention to—relics of the World War 11
located just in front of the airport building.
Fishing out my cameras and my boredom forgotten, I walked over and
started taking photos of the Japanese cannon and B29 wheels and an
antiaircraft machine gun. These historical pieces were found in a firing
position and hidden in one of the caves in San Jose, Tinian and have
been moved to the airport to create a historical display.
Innocently sitting there in all its rusted glory is a machine gun
with the steel seat still attached was reported to be one of those that
inflicted heavy damage on the battleship Colorado and destroyer Norman
Scott during the first day of the battle of Tinian.
Beside the machine gun is a plaque erected and dedicated to honor the
surviving VPB-116 Blue Raiders airmen who served on Tinian.Located at the historic west field of the island, Tinian Airport is
the third of three runways used by the 58th Bomb Wing of the 20th Air
Force and constructed for the B-29 Super-fortress for smaller planes.
That spare hour before my flight gave me a chance to capture on the
lens more relics that have played important roles during the World War
2. If you’re on Tinian, take a few minutes to check out these artifacts
right outside the airport building. You just don’t know how many
thousands of people around the world envy you for having this chance.

Friday, October 14, 2011

THE whole neighborhood was already in dreamland past 3 a.m. when I
went out of the house to get a whiff of fresh air a couple of days ago.
The world was bathed in full moonlight that it was almost daylight. I
was unable to resist the urge to go out and try to capture the full
round beauty that most of us take for granted. I decided it was time to
put one of my dormant investments to work.
Going back in, I unearthed a 1300mm zoom lens that I purchased some
months from its box, shaking off the layers of dust that had accumulated
from neglect.
Struggling with a heavy duty 6-foot tripod and the heavy lens was a
battle. I haven’t found time to experiment with the knobs and bolts and
nuts of both tripod and lens yet and it took me a good quarter of an
hour before I was finally able to attach the lens to the tripod.
Getting out of the door with the whole thing was a harder battle and I
was scared that the moon would have set by the time I finally get out
and the sun would be on its way up.
I succeeded after much struggling and positioned the lens toward
where the moon was. I saw only total darkness. I twisted and adjusted
knobs and the camera settings but still nothing. The lens would not
work. There goes hundreds of dollars down the drain, I gave up in
frustration.
I was about to pack everything up and start the struggle of getting
the whole thing back inside when I found that the lens cover was still
in place that’s why everything was black.
Like a child, I peeked into the viewfinder and kept turning the focus
until finally I saw my moon, big and full and round with the blotches
and craters that I was unable to capture with my standard lens.
Excited, and armed with my Canon SLR, lens and no knowledge of how to
take moon photos, I clicked away, experimenting with different camera
settings but it was no easy feat. I had to really stretch out my arm to
reach the far end of the lens where the focus was.Tired but satisfied at last, I ended my dawn adventure and downloaded
the photos to my computer. I was unable to capture sharp photos but I
was happy with a couple of photos I considered ‘passable’ from almost a
hundred shots. Talk about the effort and the muscle pains I went through
the next couple of days from struggling with the heavy weights.
For centuries, the moon has never failed to captivate people from all
over the world. It has always been a fascinating and intriguing subject
to shoot.
Yes, you are right. There’s a full moon every month and we see it
going through the different phases throughout the month. We enjoy its
brilliance and take it for granted but have you ever really taken time
to appreciate this beauty of nature?
When you can, try to capture the brilliant moon with your camera. You
don’t need to be a pro. Just enjoy what you are doing. Saipan is one of
those places that has lots of ideal places to get really good shots of
the moon. Happy moon shooting!

Friday, October 7, 2011

THE short, rocky pathway that we were following one afternoon a
couple of weeks back that was almost hidden by overgrown bushes at the
far end of the green golf courses at the Coral Ocean Point resort in
Koblerville ended in a small clearing, and the sight of clear blue skies
and the vast sea greeted us.
The sea glittered under the hot afternoon sun as I and two buddies
surveyed the long stretch of rocky beach. It was my first time to set
foot in this beach that I always see from up above every time the plane
from Tinian approaches the Saipan airstrip.
The beach was deserted and silent, save for the occasional drone of the planes flying in.
Coral Ocean Point beach is one of those less frequented beaches in
the island. The beach can be accessed by passing through the golf
courses and we had to borrow two golf carts and walk the short distance
to the beach. The beach with its sharp corals and rocky water beds is
not that ideal for children and families but on the other hand, adults
may find the beach as a romantic getaway, a change from the regular
soft, sandy beaches in the other parts of the island.

One good thing about the Coral Ocean Point beach especially for
photographers and photo enthusiasts is that there is so much to capture
on lens like the beautiful corals and rocks, small cliffs, spectacular
cloud formations, the clear blue waters gently slapping on the shores
near the beach or the huge waves crashing on the rocky ledges from the
distance.
We saw the remains of a barbeque party at a pit near the rocks and
knew that some picnickers had taken advantage of the beautiful beach.
A few meters from where we were, a swimmer braved the heat and went
snorkeling around. Snapping a few photos, we packed up to leave the
area. I wished we had the luxury of time during that brief visit but we
had other appointments and that trek to the beach was actually a side
trip, not in our original plan. I would have wanted to stay longer.
If you happen to spend some time at the Coral Ocean Point beach, don’t forget to bring a camera.

Monday, October 3, 2011

The early
morning air was still and silent and we coasted along the rough roads
going to one of the island’s historic landmarks some weeks back. The day
has just begun as we headed for one of the long deserted airstrips at
the northernmost part of the island.

Rubbing
my sleep-deprived eyes and trying to fight off a wave of drowsiness, I
fished out my camera from my sling bag and started clicking away,
capturing landscape and views.

I’ve been to the North Field of Tinian
several times before, but it was different this time because first, it
was very early in the morning (which means practically midnight for a
nocturnal being like me), and second, I was with a professional
photographer who knew the place and had a deeper understanding about
history than what our lenses could capture.

The sun was slowly making its way up the
horizon when we glided smoothly into the Runway A (Able) as my companion
Dirk Spennemann started capturing the neglected airstrip with his
cameras from all angles. He was collecting photos for an upcoming
exhibit about places that played roles in World War II battles all over
the Pacific.

The lonely airstrip constructed of
crushed coral and asphalt stretched emptily before us, with weeds and
bushes growing in several parts a silent testimony to its state of
neglect.

I stood still for a few moments, closing
my eyes against the glare of the sun and trying to imagine what the
place looked like 66 years ago.

Runway Able was just one of the six airstrips the Seabees and Marines constructed in 1945. They named
the four airstrips at the North Field ABCD for Able, Baker, Charlie and
Dog. Runway Able is the extra-long runway which was used for the B-29
bomber Enola Gay that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima.

We didn’t go to the three other runways
anymore as Dirk had more places on his list to check out and photograph.
We drove out of the Runway Able and proceeded to another historical
place nearby — the bomb pits where Japanese soldiers used to store their
bombs and fuel.

Those few minutes we spent at Runway Able
gave me a new perspective about a place many people on island may have
taken for granted. It played a big role in World War II.

Friday, September 9, 2011

DRIVING on the rough path along the lush
golf courses of Coral Ocean Point one day last week, I had no idea that
one of the island’s historical treasures lies along the coastal area
beyond the thick shrubbery that made the road almost impossible to see.

Riding
in two golf cars, I and two officemates parked along the side of the
path and followed a trail some meters down to the beach and I saw one of
those Japanese pillboxes almost obscured by the tall weeds.

The structure, which turned out to be one
of the three Japanese blockhouses constructed on island, stood as
strong and proud as ever like it was constructed just recently. The
blockhouse was perched in a location that provided a commanding view of
the beach.

It usually takes a lot to convince me to
go inside any of these old structures like bunkers but unexpectedly, an
inner battle was taking place as I fought my fear of enclosed spaces and
tried to curb my curiosity as I made the few steps down to the door of
the structure.

Finally, my curiosity won and for the
first time, I stepped inside a Japanese bunker. Ducking to avoid the
spider’s web along the way, I took tentative steps inside. Contrary to
what I thought, it was well lighted inside, with the rays of the
afternoon sun streaming through the small rectangular windows on each of
the internal partitions.

Although the walls of the blockhouse were
over one yard thick and the ceiling was low, I forgot my being
claustrophobic for a moment as I stood still and surveyed my
surroundings for a few minutes, trying to imagine that almost 70 years
ago this place housed canons and the walls were the only mute witnesses
to the bullets ricocheting from the enemy’s firing line.

The sting of mosquitoes on my arms and
face brought me back to the present and I hurried out from the confines
of the thick walls and into the fresh and salty air outside.

According to the interpretive sign posted
by the CNMI Historic Preservation Office and the U.S. National Park
Service, the 20mm blockhouse, which is also referred to as the German
blockhouse, was of Japanese design and construction. The other two are
at Obyan Beach and Laolao Beach. The site was placed on the National
Register of Historic Places in 1995.

Sunday, September 4, 2011

MY conviction that I had explored and
written short pieces about every nook and cranny that Tinian had to
offer was proven wrong a few weeks back when I went on a photography
jaunt with Australian professor and photographer Dirk Spennemann.

After
taking photos of the Atomic Bomb Pits, airstrip and the Air
Communications building, Spennemann parked our rented car in a grassy
portion at the roadside a few meters away from and hauled his giant
camera from the backseat. Although I had driven around several times in
that area before, the place we were heading to was unfamiliar. Asking no
questions, I followed him, pausing now and then to take photos of
things that caught my interest.

We hiked through a tree-lined path cut
into a coral hill for a few minutes before I saw where we were heading
for. A massive concrete building dug into the bedrock and protected with
heavy steel plate doors was at the end of the trail, sharp pieces of
steel sticking out of its thick concrete roof and walls. The building,
although obviously sturdily built, was broken and shattered.

We went just inside the door of the
structure. I couldn’t see a thing and Spennemann told me to wait until
my eyes get adjusted to the darkness. Very soon, objects like drums and
huge pillars began to take shape. I trained my camera at half-shutter in
different directions for some seconds before pressing it and looked at
the viewfinder. I saw hundreds of burned out drums and pieces of steel
inside the bunker, all in disarray at the floor. After taking a few more
photos, my being a claustrophobic started to take over and I found it
hard to breath. With no exit, it was humid inside. I groped my way
outside, thankful for the breath of fresh air when I emerged from the
structure.

A marker at the side of the building
tells the story that one of the fuel storage structures was ignited
sometime during the first days of American invasion and the fire got so
intense that Marine battalions nearby were prompted to move to a
different position. Because of the heat, huge concrete slabs stripped
from the ceiling and in exploded fuel drums.

Picking our way slowly to avoid the
slippery and muddy patches on the road, we went around to the other side
of the canyon and saw the cement slabs that were the remaining pieces
of the fuel drum storage. The Japanese bomb storage and fuel drum
storage are among the most remarkable Japanese military structures on
Tinian.

We left the place with more gigabytes of
photos in our memory cards and an additional piece of history on a relic
on Tinian that played a big role during the World War II. If you think
that one day is enough to visit Tinian and explore its cultural and
historical wealth, you can think again. The island has so much to offer.

Friday, August 26, 2011

I’ve seen the
sign on the fork of the road lots of times before, a crudely made piece
of wood painted with the words “Tinian Shrine” with an arrow pointing to
a rough road leading to a thick shrubbery.

The
huge potholes in the road are a big turnoff especially if you are not
driving a four-wheel drive or if you are not that adventurous. I had
been out exploring and photographing the historical sites of Tinian with
visiting photographer and professor Dirk Spennemann from Australia one
day a couple of weeks back and the Tinian Shrine was not in our
itinerary.

But then, we had an unspoken agreement to “follow the roads and no questions asked until we get there” so off we went.

Spennemann drove all the up to the top of
the Carolinas Heights Subdivision, deftly avoiding the huge potholes
and the soft portions on the road leading up and stopped at a dead end.
Or so we thought when we saw another crudely built sign with an arrow
pointing to oh, miracles — a single lane dirt road almost obscured by
the thick shrubbery. Hesitant to drive further, my companion said we’d
have to walk the rest of the way up.

I was not interested to walk because I
was getting tired and my brain was attempting to shut off any minute
after working at the computer for the whole night, added to the heat of
the 3 p.m. sun blazing down on us and we didn’t even have a drop of
water to quench our thirst, my flimsy sandals already gave out from our
earlier trek to the North Field that morning so that I had to tie the
straps to my toenails, all this added to our heavy cameras and bags.

Spennemann
finally gave in and taking on a “whatever” stance, took the wheel
again. Luckily, the road widened when we were already some meters deep
into the bushes and we drove on and up until we reached our destination.

There, nestled amid more shrubbery and
green foliage is a wide torii gate and a long flight of slippery,
moss-covered stone steps leading up to a stone-built inner shrine at the
top. The shrine was deserted so we had the place to ourselves.

Unpacking our gear, we started working
and forgot everything else. For the next hour or so, only the clicking
of the shutters broke the deafening silence, save for the occasional
chirping of birds and crickets.

Although we were just about a couple of
miles away from the center of Tinian, I couldn’t shake off the uneasy
feeling that we were in another world and were being observed by unseen
beings.

I stood still for a few seconds when I
reached the small cement house at the top, shrugging off my uneasiness
as I glared back at the pair of glaring stone dragons that acted as
guards at the entrance of the inner shrine. I learned that the small
house was already renovated and renovated after termites the original
wood and copper roof.

It was not hard to imagine how Japanese
people left offerings in this abandoned Japanese shrine with. An air of
solemnity ruled the place and you get the feeling of being intruders and
it felt like a sacrilege to touch anything or to even make a slight
noise to break the silence.

The small Shinto shrines at the side of
the long stairway showed signs of neglect, with several of its smaller
stone monuments left shattered around.

The Sumiyoshi Shinto Shrine or popularly
known as the Tinian Shrine is one spot that you should not miss on any
visit to this island.

Friday, August 19, 2011

A few meters away from the air raid shelters and the
monuments erected in memory of the marine battalions is the dilapidated
yet sturdy structure used to house the air administrations staff
building in the North Field of Tinian.
Except for the distant whirring sounds of a brush cutter some
maintenance men making as they cleaned the area, everything else was
quite and deserted. It was just half past 7 a.m. and we have the place
to ourselves.

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I’ve been to the same building a couple of times in the past three
years but those were just for a quick stop to take quick photos, and off
to other, more interesting sites in the island.
Last week was different. I flew in to Tinian real early with Dr. Dirk
Spennemann, a visiting professor from the Charles Sturt University in
Australia to visit the historical places and take photos of the people
and life in the island.
What made that trip totally different from my previous trips was that
I was with somebody who is not only a professional photographer but one
trained to see more than what we ‘ordinary mortals’ see, and one who
was willing to share his knowledge.We spent some time in the kitchen area and Spennemann pointed out
where the sink and cooking pots used to be installed, the areas where
the washrooms and restrooms were, and gave special attention to how the
walls, floor tiles and ceilings were designed.
I paid just a passing glance to a white cloth with Japanese symbols
and a glass of water placed on the sink. Alongside it were three pieces
of incense sticks. To my untrained eye, those were just objects left by
some tourists but Spennemann took his time taking photos of it. Only
then did I understand that those objects were purposely left by Japanese
individuals as offering to their relatives who have passed on during
the war.
We gingerly picked our way through the debris and up the slippery
stairs to the second floor, where more traces of devastation awaited us.
One can just imagine what a busy office that place used to be.Spennemann pointed out the concrete walls, floors and pillars, the
thick pieces of steel sticking out from what was left of the concrete
after bombs ripped through. Honestly, I saw the concrete walls, floors
and pillars and the thick steel pieces and nothing more as leftovers of a
sturdy building before but never took any notice of how sturdily built
the building really was so that it is still standing after several
decades and despite having several of its pillars blown off by the
bombs.
Spennemann said that the constructors did a commendable job using materials designed to last for decades.Where before I just saw the ruins of the air administration building
as one of the must-visit historical sites on Tinian, I left that
building not only with hundreds of photos in my camera but saw it under a
different light, not only as a remnant of the bloody war but of the
important role it played.
Records show that the air administration staff building used to be
the headquarters for the Japanese Navy’s 1st Air Fleet under the command
of Vice Admiral Kakuji Kakuta, and the building was just one of those
vital structures that played an important role in the final stage of the
war of the Pacific.

Friday, August 5, 2011

ROTA—Driving along the paved road from Songsong going to Sinapalo
Village on Rota will give you a chance to enjoy many scenic spots that
may hinder your trip if you are in a hurry, and this includes pristine
beaches, lush jungles, historical sites, and more attractions packed
into this small paradise of an island.
One of the island’s attractions that you should and could not miss is
this long stretch of a usually deserted white, sandy beach called
Teteto Beach Club, located about three and a half miles away from the
Rota International Airport. I mean deserted in the sense that you will
feel you have rented the whole beach for yourself when you go there. It
could be because the island’s limited population just takes the beach
for granted, and tourists have other activities and places to explore
there, except for few minutes’ stopover.
The slight drizzle did not hamper me from stopping by one afternoon
some months back to snap some photos. Contrary to what any photographer
would have wanted to capture, there was no blue clouds and bright sun
shining above. Instead, the weather was bleak and huge, angry waves
crashNobody was around, and I felt a little bit strange and apprehensive
as I parked my rented car a few feet away from the sign board
advertising the name of the beach but I decided to be brave and went
out. The umbrellas used to shelter loungers were folded as nobody was
using them, and I guess as a protection from being blown by the strong
winds. I took quick snapshots as I tried to fight off the uncanny
feeling that I was not alone and that someone or something was observing
me. Scolding myself for entertaining such thoughts in broad daylight, I
hurried back to the car and drove on.
On a bright sunny day, the Teteto Beach would have been a perfect
spot to relax and unwind, stretch and read your favorite book, or
sunbathe on the loungers.
The water at Teteto Beach looks shallow and safe, but I was told the current could be sometimes pretty strong.
Teteto Beach with its pristine shores is ideal for family picnics,
for beach activities, for hanging out or for simply communing with
nature.
I would have loved to capture one of the stunning sunsets over Teteto
Beach from photos I’ve seen online posted by several photographers but
my timing was not good because the weather was not cooperative, and I
had to hurry to catch my flight back to Saipan. Maybe, next time.

Friday, July 29, 2011

EXACTLY three years ago, I visited for the first time this old
Japanese lighthouse at the Navy Hill and was impressed about the sturdy
structure which has played an important role in history, albeit its
neglected state.I grabbed the chance revisit the lighthouse on Tuesday with a friend
who, having just returned to Saipan after being away for five years,
immediately got busy shooting photos of the setting sun from the second
level of the lighthouse. Somehow, I was not interested in the sunset
because things caught my interest. I waded my way through the piles of
empty beer and soda cans and bottles and hordes of other food wrappings
to the top of the lighthouse approximately 50 feet up.
I remember seeing the walls then bathed in graffiti and resembled a
freedom wall where a penmanship competition was held and everybody wrote
anything using black markers—a sad fate for this helpless structure
which could have been one of the best tourist destinations in the
island.
The view from up there was as spectacular as I remember it, with the
setting sun providing a wonderful backdrop to the whole area of Garapan.
But the artists have been at work again—this time upgrading
themselves with a vengeance by painting the walls with huge letters and
figures using colored paint. Not an inch of space escaped the hands of
the vandals who even had the guts to climb to the circular wall and
scribble nonsense for the world to see.Earlier efforts to preserve this historical place which has been one
of the sites in the CNMI that were accepted to the U.S. National
Register of Historic Places in 1974 proved futile. Concerned groups such
as the Beautify CNMI and volunteers polled their efforts in repainting
the lighthouse and erasing the graffiti on the walls from time to time,
but it was like a cat and mouse game. As soon as the cleaners are done
with their job, the vandals get back to work.
The wind was blowing stronger and dusk was settling in when I
descended, this time fishing my small flashlight to see my way down the
flight of dark and slippery stairs.
Records show that the lighthouse which was constructed in 1934 to
guide Japanese ships arriving in the harbor was abandoned after the U.S.
Navy pulled out of Saipan in 1947.
Despite the tall bushes and thick shrubs that threatened to engulf
the whole structure, the place still maintains its power to lure
visitors to come up and challenge the slippery and dank stairs, the
piles of trash.

The lighthouse survived World War 11 and withstood years of exposure
to the harsh element, but not against the scum artists who seem to find
joy in scribbling nonsense in the walls and destroying one of the best
tourist destinations in the island.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

WHEN the weather is bleak, or when strong winds start to blow and
the sea water begins to roll in giant waves toward the shores, it is
time to take out your surf board and head toward one of the most popular
destinations for surf boarding on Saipan — the beach behind the
Aquarius Beach Tower in Chalan Kanoa.

Saipan
is home to numerous pristine beaches with long stretches of fine, sandy
shores but this is one of the most favorite hangouts of many during
weekends and even during weekdays.

The humid weather drove a lot of
residents to the seaside last Saturday so that finding a shaded parking
place near the beach was a challenge. It was refreshing to see the
usually deserted beach dotted with beachgoers for a change but what
attracted the attention of many were the surfers who were having a grand
time riding on the high waves and children shouting in glee.

Saipan may not exactly be a surfer’s
dream destination but the rolling and crashing waves were enough to
bring joy to the swimmers and surfers, and entertain the onlookers who
preferred to stay in the shade.

A word of warning to surfers and swimmers
— be careful when you swim or surf beyond the reef because the waves
could get so rough and the current too strong for you to swim your way
back to the shore.

Last weekend, the arrival of police and
boating safety officers to rescue a swimmer who was stranded beyond the
reef scared the kids and adults who were surfing, but with extra
precaution, anyone can beat the summer heat and enjoy riding the high
waves free. This is what island life is all about.

Friday, July 15, 2011

TINIAN — If there is one
place in the CNMI that I really wanted to visit, it is this little
strip of an island about five miles southwest of Tinian.

You get a glimpse of Goat Island or Aguigan when the plane makes a turn and prepares for landing at the Tinian airport.

Months back, some friends from Tinian who
had been to the island made tentative plans and invited me to camp
overnight on Goat Island, an invitation that I knew I could and would
never refuse despite the impossible challenges that came with the
invitation: swimming against the strong ocean currents or waiting for
the right moment when the boat tilts toward the steep cliffside which is
the only access to the island then making a jump for it.

None of the options were appealing but I
knew that I was willing to brave that jump if I had to since swimming
was out of the question. My friend said sharks abound around the island —
and they were not the shy type.

On a clear afternoon last week, I got a
good view of Goat Island from Tachogna Beach. Using my zoom lens, I saw
nothing but incredible steep cliffs extending from one end of the island
to the other. My lens were not powerful enough to see the feral goats
and birds that are the sole inhabitants of the island.

The 2.7 mile Goat Island is reported to
the site of the last of the ancient Chamorro resistance to Spanish
colonial rule in 1695. My friend said remains of war shelters and other
relics from World War II like bombs and shells still litter the island

Dive operators say some of the best dive
spots in the CNMI can be found around Goat Island, but only a few are
willing to venture that far because the currents are just too strong and
too dangerous even for seasoned swimmers.

A couple of years back, lawmakers on
Tinian offered Goat Island as alternative site for the planned buildup
in the Marianas in the wake of increasing opposition on Guam.
Then-Tinian Rep. Edwin Aldan also suggested the need to propose a plan
to relocate the wild animals and birds to Goat Island so they would be
safe when the military buildup started on Tinian.

Our tentative plans went down the drain
when one of my buddies went home to the Philippines for good. The plan
will now remain a plan, but someday I hope to be able to write another
article after I’ve actually set foot on Goat Island.

Friday, July 8, 2011

FOR someone who has been here all his or her life, or have stayed
for decades here, the structures that you can see scattered all over the
islands are just old and buried slabs of cement piled on top of each
other with steel bars sticking out, but these Japanese bunkers and
pillboxes are one of the unique attractions that draws thousands of
tourists each year.
Drive around this scenic island and you will see these remnants,
reminders of a bloody war that took place here almost 70 years ago—from
Saipan International Airport, Susupe, Beach Road, Marpi Road, Last
Command Post in Marpi, Naftan Point, and everywhere else on Tinian and
Rota.
I had the chance to experience what it feels to be inside one of the
bunkers at the airport one afternoon, trying to imagine Japanese
soldiers firing from the shelter of these sturdy concrete structures.
Situated among colorful blooms of Flame Trees, you will not think of
guns being fired to and from that point, except for the large bullet
holes on the sides of the bunker which serves as actual testimonies of
the direct hits from the American tanks.
The nearest I got inside a Japanese Pillbox was the one in Chulu or
Starsands Beach on Tinian. Like other pillboxes, it is half-buried in
the sand with a rifle slit but I just peered through. Being
claustrophobic, I dared not creep through the roots that have grown over
part of the entrance.
One of the most popular pillboxes on Saipan is at the grassy area of
the American Memorial Park. It offers easy access to anyone who wants to
get a closer look. Kids play around and climb over it all the time.
The half-submerged tank at the Invasion Beach in Susupe is one of my
favorites. Sitting frozen in an action for attack, this tank gets
frequent visits from swimmers which I always find an interesting subject
to take photos of.
These Japanese bunkers, tankers and pillboxes are just among the
artifacts of war that littered the islands of Saipan, Tinian and Rota.
Nestled among thick jungles, roadsides and anywhere else are other
relics such as rusting hulks from aircraft, helmets, weapons and other
tools of war—relics that plays an important role to remind everybody
that these beautiful islands were once the site of one of the bloodiest
battles of the Pacific.

Friday, July 1, 2011

ROTA—Driving up the crest of Mt. Sabana on Rota will lead you to
one of the island’s attractions that get a fair share of tourists each
year—a 12mm cannon strategically located at below and cliff and aimed
toward the sea.
It was past five in the afternoon and the sun was making its trip down the horizon faster than we would have wanted to.
I and a friend were driving up the rugged road leading to Mt. Sabana,
wanting to see the whole island from the highest point 1,600 feet above
and hoping to catch a glimpse of a deer or two along the way, too.
We stopped for a few minutes to quickly take photos of an old
Japanese cannon along the way, a quick stop that ate about half an hour
of our budget.
Arriving at the gate of Sabana, we slowed to a stop to read a sign
which sent our spirits spiraling down. The gate will be closed at 5:30
p.m. and will be reopened at 7 a.m. the following day.
The daring part of me wanted to take the risk to drive on, hoping
that the gatekeeper would fail to close the gate that night but my
companion said he wouldn’t want to spend the night slapping mosquitoes
in the cold mountain or walk the whole way back. We can creep under the
gate of course, but we have to leave the car behind and there was no
signal so calling for rescue is out of the question.
The drive up to Sabana in broad daylight is a challenge by itself,
but driving up in the growing darkness doubles the challenge. There is
always the threat of a tire going flat and having no spare, or the car
breaking down with no means of rescue as very few cars go up there.
We played it safe and drove back to Songsong in the growing darkness,
a little bit disappointed because I was not able to see the Sabana
Peace Memorial located at the peak of Mt. Sabana constructed to honor
the Japanese soldiers who lost their lives on Rota during World War II,
the remains of the man-made rock wall and the site where Japanese
Command had once taken place during the war, sites which I have only
seen photos of. No deer also crossed our path.
Mt. Sabana is a conservation area under Rota’s local law 9-1. The
cool mountain provides a natural habitat for the wildlife and medicinal
plants, serves as an area for subsistence farming, and is one of the
tourist attractions.
Rota has still so much to offer in addition to its heady mix of
natural scenery, crystal clear waters and white, sandy beaches, lush
forests, World War 11 memorabilia, friendly people and more—all squeezed
into this pocket-sized paradise half an hour away from Saipan by air.
When on Rota, try driving up to Mt. Sabana but do it during daytime and
have better luck than us.

Friday, June 17, 2011

THERE is more to spiders and piles of dust that has accumulated
through the years when you enter this abandoned building that has played
a big role during the second World War on Tinian.
Driving by this abandoned two-storey building at the North Field of
Saipan will give you the creeps, as though you can expect to see someone
peering from one of those windows anytime but venturing inside is
another story. The sun was fast making its way down the horizon when I
and two friends from Tinian stepped into the cemented door of the
building some weeks back.
Dodging cobwebs and spiders that scuttled off to safety upon our
arrival, we stood for a few minutes just inside the door of the
building, getting the feel of the place. My imagination was working
wildly as we picked our way and explored the empty rooms, our footsteps
echoing through the stairs and corridors.
Climbing the two flights of stairs to the second floor, we explored
all the rooms, glorying in the silently eerie atmosphere that you can
only get in abandoned buildings but without the fear of stepping into
something that will send us falling into the ground below because the
building, made of sturdy construction materials, holds the promise of
staying around for the next century.
Used for inter-island communication by the Japanese during those
years of war, the Radio Communication Building at the North Field of
Tinian was recently used by a ranch as a slaughterhouse but abandoned it
later.
I imagined how those now-empty rooms served a big role during the
war, bustling with activities as soldiers manned various equipment and
communication tools for sending important messages from and to Tinian.
Light pouring through the huge open windows of the building serves as
natural light to guide the tourists and locals who visit the place.
So rich in history, the Radio Communication Building is among the
most-visited tourist attractions on Tinian, drawing hundreds of visitors
from all parts of the world each year.

Friday, June 10, 2011

A DELIGHTFUL respite from the daily grind of life in this beautiful
island would not require one to spend thousands of dollars for an
exotic vacation far away. You can have a vacation right where you are,
with freedom to choose between short breaks of an hour or two or a whole
day— it’s all up to you but you keep your eyes and senses open to
discover places that people from other places would give a lot for.
A short drive to the far right end of the Smiling Cove Marina one
afternoon some days back gave me another spot to write about and share
to people who are thinking that there’s nothing interesting in this
island anymore.
The tide was out when I and my roommate ventured into the dried out
sea bed. I had been to this area several times before, but it was my
first time to be there when there was barely any water on the sea at
all. I grabbed the chance to explore the other side of the island. With
my flimsy sandals, I picked my way slowly among the sharp rocks and
corals, pausing every now and then to snap pictures of anything that
catches my attention.
Seaweeds which look like small dark patches when the water is high
bent to the seafloor as low as they could, soaking up whatever water was
left.

The extreme humidity forgotten, I got lost in time as I looked up and
gazed at one of the most beautiful sights Saipan has to offer during
these times. Against a spectacular backdrop of blue skies and seas,
blossoming flame trees dotting the hills completed the picture, making
it look like this part of Saipan was in flames, a photographer’s
delight.
There was no other sign of life from where I was standing, save for a
few crabs scurrying to their holes and some fish stranded in little
pools of water and among the thick seaweeds whose splashes I tried
in vain to capture with my camera.
Birds swooping to catch a fish or two from the water added to the
beauty of the afternoon. Soon, the tide started coming back, so fast
indeed that before I knew it, the spot where I was standing minutes
earlier was already covered in water. Returning to the shore to sit on a
fallen log, I saw the seaweeds standing up and springing back to life,
once again looking like patches of small dark islands as always. Life
has returned to normal for the sea creatures, breaking the brief respite
they enjoyed when the tide was out.
This island still has so much to offer if you look at it with a new
perspective. After all, the best things in life are still free.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

ROTA
— Delightfully situated on a prime spot along the coastal road just
before you enter Songsong is one paradise that you should not miss when
you’re here — Pinatang Park.

It is a huge boulevard with an entrance made of cement but designed to look like natural logs and intricate woodwork.

The gate leads straight to a long arch
bridge connecting to a smaller island, a small park complete with a pool
and spiraling water slides, picnic tables and benches and other
amenities that makes up what perfect picnics areas should be.

I stopped by Pinatang Park one cloudy
afternoon a couple of months back, drawn to the sense of peacefully
quiet but scenic park overlooking the ocean and bordered by islets that
serve as natural fences against the giant waves.

I
had the whole place to myself and I couldn’t help but conclude that if
there is one spot on the beautiful island of Rota that can make you sigh
with deep regret, it is this place. Something is missing in this
beautiful park —people and sounds of laughter and everything that parks
are supposed to be.

The long boulevard stretched endlessly,
each slab of cement, posts with missing lights, crumbling or missing
balustrades, rusty benches with pieces of steel sticking out, and
everything else telling its own sad story.

At
the far end of the park, a beautiful cottage/bar or what’s left of it,
with round cement stools around it tells its own sad story of glory days
gone by, a testimony that this beautiful park has been exposed to fend
off for itself against the harsh elements of nature.

A Rota resident said the park requires
too much money to maintain and the municipality has no funds for it,
hence its present state.

Only the profusion of colorful flowers
and the chirping birds refuse to acknowledge the fact that the park is
left with no one to maintain it, and that visitors can come and go as
they please, at their own risk.

I got scared to cross the bridge and
explore the other side of Pinatang Park. I regretted that decision and
wouldn’t miss going there if I get another chance to come back to Rota.

Soon, a school bus dropped off some
students on the roadside and the silence was broken. One little boy
ventured down the stairs to hide from his companions and I couldn’t
resist taking a photo of him.

It’s funny but despite the dilapidation
and sense of abandonment surrounding the park, I find it appealing and
would have stayed longer if not for the huge, fat raindrops that started
to pelt on the deserted park. I ran for the car hugging my gear, and
with heart still heavy with regret, drove away to Songsong for a late
lunch.

Friday, May 27, 2011

LOOKING for a place to cool off and escape from the humid confines
of the house drove me and my roommate to this lagoon a few meters beyond
the Bell Tower at American Memorial Park on Saturday afternoon.
There’s nothing really spectacular about this place. I’ve been there
countless times and taken hundreds of photos in the past three years,
except that when we arrived there, I looked at the place with new eyes.
The tide was out, and the lagoon was almost dried out.
My roommate immediately headed for a cement bench under the trees
while I headed toward the dried out portion of the lagoon and ventured
as near to the water as I can, enjoying the tranquility and peace.
Watching small crabs scurrying to their holes and trying in vain to
capture them on lens was an impossible feat which kept me occupied for
the next half hour.
A solitary fisherman was throwing his line in the water a few meters
from where I was kneeling in the sand, casting surreptitious glances at
me each time I took a stolen shot at him while waiting for fish to eat
his bait.
The tide was slowly coming in, and the sun was getting low in the
horizon. Reflected in the calm waters was a spectacular profusion of
colors—the skies turning into a reddish-orange haze, the blossoming
flame trees, and the gently swaying yachts moored at the dock was a
photographer’s dream.
Forgetting the fisherman, my fingers got busy with the shutter as I
tried to capture the spectacular view before me. Some minutes and a
splash later, I turned and caught the fisherman haul in a squirming,
medium-size fish from his pole, in time to capture it all in the lens.
Soon, it was getting dark and water had trickled back filling almost
half of the lagoon. Loud music and laughter started to pour out from one
of the yachts signaling the start of a party at the Smiling Cove,
shattering the tranquility I was enjoying earlier.
I packed my gear and found my roommate on his knees absorbed in a
school of small fish trapped in a pool of water under the bridge.
If you have stayed here for several decades or most of your life, you
may have taken what nature offers for granted and say that “it has
always been and will always be there” but try to get out sometime and
you will get some pleasant surprises.

Friday, May 20, 2011

ROTA
— Come on in, the water’s cool. This unspoken and unwritten invitation
is too hard to resist if you are at the Swimming Hole, one of the most
popular and must-not miss destinations on this island.

Standing on a huge rock with my camera, I
would have given anything for a dip instead of just a short stop at
this place which I had already seen in hundreds of spectacular
photographs and glowing remarks from different blogs and websites of
visitors who had been there.

Surrounded by natural rock formations
that fenced off the area from the huge wild waves rolling noisily to the
shore a few yards away, the Swimming Hole is a pocket of crystal-clear
body of blue water that promises worlds of refreshing satisfaction when
you step into the warm waters.

The Swimming Hole was deserted when we
arrived there. Under the sweltering heat of the 12 o’clock sun, the
temptation to take a dip was too irresistible, even for a non-swimmer
like me. Early in the morning or late in the afternoon, when the heat of
the sun is not so harsh, you can float lazily around, let stress flow
out of your body and enjoy a relaxing time.

Unfortunately, when you step on Rota for
the first time and want to see as many places and attractions as you can
in one day, you can’t stay long in one area. I had to content myself
with dipping my toes to test the water, take photos and off we went to
explore more of this island’s tranquility.

The Swimming Hole is just one of the
numerous unspoiled beaches of Rota. It serves as a perfect getaway, and
with fewer tourists, you can have the pool to yourself like one giant
Jacuzzi.

My hosts Ali and Doc Manny from Guam
whisked me off for a quick visit to the Rota Latte Stone Quarry before
proceeding to the Bird Sanctuary, a fast drive around Sinapalo and a
faster drive toward Songsong. With so many beautiful places to visit and
so little time, I longed to get behind the wheel and explore the island
at my own pace, something which I did the next day.

The island of Rota has lots to offer, and the Swimming Hole is just one attraction. This article was originally published here: